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QuickBooks Desktop Sync Preferences

Synchronization preferences for QuickBooks Desktop

Updated yesterday

Note: If you are using QuickBooks Online as your accounting software, please check our article QuickBooks Online Sync Preferences.

This document will walk through the preferences for synchronization with QuickBooks Desktop. Most users will never need to change these settings, unless they require specific preferences. 

Note: Administrator permissions are required to access the QuickBooks Preferences.


QuickBooks Desktop Sync Preferences

  1. Click the Profile icon in the upper right and click Integrations.

  2. Select QuickBooks Sync.

There are three sections to the QuickBooks screen:

  • Sync

  • Advanced

  • Troubleshooting

When you are finished with your changes, click Save at the bottom of the screen to save your preferences.


Sync

When you click Expand next to the Sync option, you will be given different options on the QuickBooks Desktop to Method sync. For more information please see our article Method Sync in Detail.

  • Full Sync: The last time Method performed a full sync: all records shared with QuickBooks are updated. To manually initiate a full sync, click Perform Full Sync link.

  • Changes Only Sync: The last time Method performed a changes-only sync: only records that have changed since the last sync are updated. To manually initiate, click Changes Only Sync link.  

  • Sync conflicts: A sync conflict happens when QuickBooks is unable to complete a request by Method to add, modify or delete a record. Click View Conflict to be brought to the Sync Conflicts screen. See QuickBooks Desktop Sync Conflicts for a list of common conflicts and their resolution.

View Details

The View Details screen for full and changes-only syncs provide additional information in real time about the last completed sync.

  • Synced: The computer it has synced with

  • Type: Changes-only versus Full sync

  • Started: Date and time last sync started

  • Finished: Date and time last sync ended

  • Total Time: Sync duration

  • Result: There are three options:

    • Success - Sync was successful

    • In progress - shows how far along the sync is as a percentage

    • Failure - shows how much of the sync was complete before failure, also as a percentage

  • Error (not shown): Any errors that occurred during the sync


Advanced

When you click Expand next to the Advanced option, you will see this screen:

  • Let Method assign Transaction numbers: QuickBooks transactions have a ref number field (transaction number) which is a user defined ID for the transaction (e.g. "Look at invoice number 28"). This number is automatically and sequentially assigned by QuickBooks when the transaction is saved.

    Enabling this option allows Method to take over the assignment of transaction numbers instead of waiting for QuickBooks to do it.

    • When checked, the transaction number will start +1 after the highest transaction number in Method, whether it was archived or not.

    • When unchecked, the transaction number will start +1 after the last transaction number in QuickBooks.

NOTE: When using this feature we strongly suggest creating transactions in Method or QuickBooks but not both. Doing so may result in transactions with the same number.

  • Maintain Transaction History: How far back Method keeps your transactions (estimates, invoices, sales orders, etc.) when performing a Full Sync. Transactions beyond this time frame will not be synced but remain in your QuickBooks file. For more information, please see our article Method Sync in Detail.

NOTE: Invoices with a balance greater than zero and sales orders that are not fully invoiced ignore this rule until they are paid off in full.

  • Sync Frequency: Method performs a changes-only sync every 15 minutes while the PUSH Connection is active.

  • Perform daily full sync at: Method will attempt to perform a full sync at the specified time. If unavailable, it will re-attempt each day at the same time. We suggest a time of day you're not likely to be using Method, since a full sync is extensive and can take time.

  • Sync Resolution:  If the same record(s) is modified in both QuickBooks and Method while the sync engine is not available, there may be an editing conflict. This setting tells how to resolve the conflict.

    Example:
    The sync engine is offline from 10:00am to noon. Bob Crenshaw’s profile is updated with a new phone number in QuickBooks at 10:30. It's updated with a new address in Method at 11:15. When the engine reconnects, Method performs a changes-only sync and discovers the record has been changed and this becomes a conflict.

    The dropdown list sets the default way Method will address this editing conflict:

    • Most Recent Wins: Most recent change will take precedence. In our example, new address is updated, phone number is unchanged.

    • Method Wins: Method update takes precedence. In our example, new address is updated, phone number is unchanged.

    • QuickBooks Wins: QuickBooks update takes precedence. In our example, Phone number is updated, address is unchanged.

    • Enter into "Resolve Conflicts": Neither phone number nor address gets updated. In this case, Method opens the Resolve Conflicts list and lets you manually choose from the above choices.


Troubleshooting

When you click Expand next to the Troubleshooting option, you will see this screen:

  • QuickBooks file: QuickBooks company file that syncs with Method. If you rename your QuickBooks company file name because of a company name change, Method will no longer recognize it. Please contact Method Support (support@method.me) to reset your QuickBooks file

  • Synced Computer Name: The main computer that hosts the QuickBooks company file above. Usually the same machine the initial sync was completed on. Reset Synced Computer Name: If you change the computer hosting your company file, Method will no longer recognize it. If you make this change, click Reset and then re-sync.

  • Method PUSH™ Connection Status: Sync engine status (connected or disconnected) and duration of status.

  • TCP/IP Roaming: Reserved for Method users on Right Networks. By default, this option is disabled. Please contact Method Support for more information on this option.

  • QuickBooks Closing Date: The closing date set in QuickBooks.

  • Unit of Measure Sync: If you have enabled Unit of Measure for your items, there are three choices for syncing. It is recommended keep it at All.

    • All: sync both active and inactive Units Of Measure with QuickBooks.

    • Active: sync only active Units Of Measure with QuickBooks.

    • None: will not sync any new Units Of Measure with QuickBooks and will overwrite transactions with Unit of Measure value from QuickBooks.

  • Customer Shipping Address Sync: If you have enabled Multiple Shipping Addresses, there are three choices for syncing.

    • Customer & Job: sync both Customer and Job Shipping Addresses.

    • Customer Only: sync only Customer Shipping Address but not Job.

    • None: neither Customer nor Job Shipping addresses will sync.

  • Instructions to setup sync on a new desktop: This opens the first steps to set up a sync on a new desktop, as you learned about here.

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